The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to increase the fine and punishment for illegal importation and sales of firearms in Nigeria.

The bill titled ‘Firearms Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ was read for the third time and passed after the lawmakers considered the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The legislation contains amendments to some sections of the main Act ranging from imposition of fine to the destruction of firearms illegally imported into the country by an individual or group.

A new Clause 39 was introduced in the bill. It gives power to officers of the Nigerian Police, Armed Forces and other law enforcement agencies to seize and confiscate any illicit and illegal firearms imported into the country without any valid import documents or firearms in possession of any individual, corporate bodies and other organisations, without a valid licence.

Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Opeyemi, who presented the report, said in view of proliferations of firearms across the country and the security challenges, the legislation was necessary.